Line Recording vs Mic Recording for Home Guitar | A Conclusion from 8 Years of Experience

Struggling Between Line and Mic Recording for Home Guitar?

When you record guitar at home, the first thing you run into is choosing between "line recording" and "mic recording."

The short answer: a guitarist who is just starting home recording should go with line recording.

But this does not mean "mic recording is bad." Each has what it suits and doesn't.

In this article, I'm ryo, 13 years of guitar and 8 years of DTM, and I sort it out. Based on experience using both, I put together the differences and how to choose.

I've always wondered which one gives the "better sound."

Reader

ryo

The answer is "it depends on your goal." Let's look at it in order.

What Is the Difference Between Line and Mic Recording?

First, let me sort out the terms.

Line recording is a method where you connect the guitar's signal directly to an audio interface (I/F below: the gear that brings guitar and mic sound into your PC). It is recorded as it is.

Mic recording is a method where you pick up the sound coming out of a guitar amp with a microphone. That is recorded as it is.

The I/F is the box you put between the PC and the guitar, right?

Reader

ryo

Right. With line recording, you plug the guitar straight into it. With mic recording, you put a mic in front of the amp.

Picturing It with a Diagram

Roughly, the signal flow goes like this.

*An amp sim is technology that recreates the sound of a real amp in software. TONEX and AmpliTube are typical examples.

Pros and Cons of Line Recording

3 Pros of Line Recording

step
1You can record without worrying about volume

The advantage is that you don't sound the amp. You can record at midnight, or in an apartment.

This is the biggest benefit in home recording.

step
2You can change the sound after recording

The raw signal recorded by line is called the "dry sound."

If you keep this dry sound, you can swap the amp sim later and redo the sound design.

step
3No mic or soundproofing needed

You need neither a mic stand nor a soundproof room. You can start with an I/F and a cable.

Being able to change the sound after recording was a shock for me.

Reader

ryo

Right? With mic recording, the sound is decided the moment you record.

Cons of Line Recording

To be honest, there are cons too.

This is a problem you can solve with settings. I plan to cover it in detail in a separate article. Most of the causes are too much gain or a lack of cabinet settings.

Pros and Cons of Mic Recording

Pros of Mic Recording

The biggest appeal of mic recording is air.

The sound from the amp makes the air in the room vibrate. The mic picks that up. This whole chain creates a "live" feel.

It works especially well for roaring styles and when you want a sense of band unity.

Mic recording seems right for a thick sound.

Reader

ryo

Ideally, yes. But honestly, building that environment at home is tough.

Cons of Mic Recording

Home recording is different, especially in apartment buildings. Just getting the amp up to a sufficient volume is difficult.

There is also the dilemma that if you turn the volume down, the amp's real good sound doesn't come out.

The Author's Experience: I Settled on Line Recording

I've been recording at home for about 8 years.

I started with GarageBand on an iPad and an iRig. Now I use Logic Pro on Mac and an Apollo Twin Solo interface.

Was it line recording from the start?

Reader

ryo

No, I tried mic recording for a while too. But it didn't last.

The reason I stopped mic recording is simple.

I only had time to work at night, and I couldn't play the amp.

When I turned the volume down to record, the sound wasn't what I wanted. Days went by when I couldn't record late at night.

After I switched to line recording, the hurdle to recording dropped at once.

I can record a phrase the moment I think of it, even at midnight. I feel this ease is the most important thing in home recording.

"Being able to record right away" is understated but important.

Reader

ryo

If the hurdle to working is high, you end up not doing it. The method you can keep up is the right one.

Today, amp sims like TONEX and AmpliTube are highly polished. Even with line recording, you can reach a good enough quality.

So Which Should You Choose?

Here it is by type.

I'll start with line recording.

Reader

ryo

That's what I recommend. Once you get used to it and your environment is ready, try mic recording.

How to choose the I/F you need for line recording is explained in a separate article. Take a look at it too.